Weekly World Numismatic News for July 17, 2022
As the times change, traditional hobbies have to find new ways to reach a new audience. The Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) tried something different and published a new children’s book.
The RCNA teamed up with best-selling Canadian author Teresa Schapansky and award-winning artist Elly Mossman to produce a children’s book, One Little Coin. The book is about a child’s adventures in joining a coin club and what happens.
Here’s the publisher’s blurb:
The book includes “Miss Cassidy’s Guidebook,” a guide to coin collecting for young readers.
One Little Coin is written in English and in French as Une Petite Monnaie.
Book publishing is always a risk. A publisher once told me that less than 10-percent of the books they publish make a significant profit. The RCNA is taking a risk by publishing a children’s book in a society where parents opt for electronic entertainment.
I hope it works. If it does, I hope it inspires others to find new ways to reach collectors.
And now the news…
July 9, 2022
→ Read more at california18.com
July 12, 2022 → Read more at canadiancoinnews.com
July 14, 2022 → Read more at philstar.com
July 15, 2022 → Read more at the-sun.com
Changing Landscape of Online Coin Price Guides
One of the more difficult things to explain to a new collector is how much a coin is worth. A common misconception is that an older coin is worth more than one struck later. Although I wrote two blog posts about coin pricing (links to Part I and Part II), the next question is, ”How much is my coin worth?”
Collectors will turn to price guides to understand how much the coin is worth. Two popular price guides are the Guidebook to United States Coins (the Red Book) and the Coin Dealer’s Newsletter (the Greysheet). The Red Book is a book and requires the collector to purchase one. But for under $20, collectors can have the complete price guide of all United States Coins in their hands.
The Red Book does not have the most up-to-date coin values as a physical publication. But it gives the collector an idea of the value of their coins and is an excellent general reference.
Until recently, the Greysheet offered collectors their retail price guide to anyone visiting their website. While the website’s interface was more artistic than usable, the information was available to collectors.
Last week, Greysheet CEO John Feigenbaum sent an email to subscribers of their mailing list that announced the end of the free access to the retail price guide.
To access the retail price guide, collectors will have to create an account on their site to access up to 10 prices per month. After making 10 free queries, users will have to subscribe to their service for $7.99 per month, a price Feigenbaum says is “about the same as a Starbucks Frappucino — and a lot less calories.“ I prefer a tall three-shot latte that costs less and has fewer calories.
The fallacy of Feigenbaum’s argument is that they collect and publish the data regardless of the way they grant access. What has changed is that the cost of printing has risen. Instead of raising the prices for the printed version of the Greysheet and sister publications for the old dealers that are past their prime, the company passes the costs to collectors.
The Greysheet is a private company and can do what they want. As a collector who does not benefit from paying a monthly subscription to access retail price guides, it is time to add other online coin guide pricing tools. There are alternatives for the average collector. For example, NGC and PCGS publish price guides for coins in their holders. Find these price guides at:
- PCGS Price Guide pcgs.com/prices
- NGC Price Guide ngccoin.com/price-guide
When the need is for general online coin guidance, here are two good resources:
- NumisMedia Collector Fair Market Value Guide can be found at numismedia.com/rarecoinprices/fmv.shtml.
- USA Coin Book has a lot of coin information and collectors buy and sell coins, and each coin page includes pricing information. Find their site at usacoinbook.com.
Even if the Red Book is not immediately accurate, it should be part of your library. As an essential reference, there is no comparable book.
Thank you to the Greysheet for providing the service in the past. But as it is time for you to move on, it is time for the ordinary collector to find other resources.
Weekly World Numismatic News for March 6, 2022
In support of the Ukrainians fighting for their freedom, the Monnaie de Paris created the Solidarity with Ukraine Mini-Medal. The copper-nickel medal is 34mm in diameter and features the Eifel Tower next to a colored Ukrainian flag. On the Ukrainian flag is the French national motto “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.”
The reverse is described as having a common reverse used by the Monnaie de Paris with the 2022 date.
Each medal is 10€ (about $10.93), with 8€ donated to the French Red Cross for Ukrainian relief. The Monnaie de Paris does not say that they will ship to the United States or the costs. Mint officials will likely answer an inquiry on Monday.
If you purchase a medal from the Monnaie de Paris, remember that most credit card companies will charge a transaction fee for converting euros to dollars. Contact your credit card company to ask about the charges.
You can find the medal on the Monnaie de Paris website. The link will help you visit the page in English.
Please watch @coinsblog on Twitter and this post for updates on availability and shipping to the United States.
And now the news…
February 28, 2022 → Read more at livescience.com
March 2, 2022 → Read more at ottawa.ctvnews.ca
March 3, 2022 → Read more at purewow.com
March 4, 2022 → Read more at greekreporter.com
March 4, 2022 → Read more at sfist.com
March 4, 2022 → Read more at athensmessenger.com
March 5, 2022 → Read more at tbsnews.net
2022 Change Has Arrived
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I stopped carrying and spending cash as a precaution. When research caught up and said that there was no significant risk of contact infection, I did not refill my wallet with cash. Then there was an announced coin shortage due to coins not circulating.
Rather than add to the problem, I dumped my change jar and continued to use credit cards. Like many people, I became used to paying with apps and credit cards. The few times I use cash is at the lottery vending machine. When it is time to buy tickets, I will pay for groceries with a debit card and ask for cash back to feed into the lottery vending machine.
I recently decided to carry some cash and use it for smaller purchases. I make a small purchase using cash. When the cashier handed over the change, I dropped it in my pocket and left the establishment. Sometime later, I will take a look.
In my first cash transaction of 2022, I received two 2022 dimes.
Before the pandemic, I would note that I would find coins from the current year later and later. Imagine my surprise that the first time someone hands over change, I find two dimes from the current year.
The U.S. Mint is manufacturing coins at a record rate, but circulation issues still cause shortages. Even though the issues are not as dire as they were in early 2021, it is amazing to find 2022 coins this early in the year.
Here is a tip-of-the-cap to the U.S. Mint for their manufacturing prowess and the Federal Reserve for making sure these coins find their way into circulation.
Weekly World Numismatic News for February 27, 2022
2022 Maya Angelou Quarter
Another numismatic celebration came with the first American Women Quarters Program featuring writer, poet, performer, social activist, and teacher Maya Angelou.
These are two events that the numismatic community can use to demonstrate diversity and attract more collectors. With the national attention on the new quarters and Gibson’s appointment, it is an opportunity not seen since the 50 State Quarters Program over 20 years ago.
WRC, the NBC owned and operated station in Washington, DC, interviewed Ventris Gibson as part of their Black History Month series. Here is the interview they aired:
And now the news…
February 21, 2022 → Read more at einnews.com
February 24, 2022 → Read more at thecourier.co.uk
February 25, 2022 → Read more at australianjewishnews.com
Weekly World Numismatic News for February 20, 2022
Two counterfeit American Silver Eagles purchased from a company who advertised on Facebook.
The news worth reporting is that online scammers are changing how they structure their scams.
After examining the websites reported by several people, they are now:
- The “companies” behind the scams are registered in London, and I am not sure why they chose London.
- Five of the six companies investigated have registrations that point to the owners coming from India. The U.K. and India have had close relations following their independence from the British Empire.
- The websites are hosted in the U.K. using a service that supports online marketplaces.
- After examining a set of coins purchased by a reader, they resemble the counterfeit coins I purchased in 2020.
Many people have talked about doing something to combat counterfeits coming from overseas. Some groups tried to write letters without a response from the recipients. At what point does the numismatic industry stop writing letters and do something?
If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different outcome, numismatics may be ready to be fitted for a straight jacket.
Since nobody in the numismatic industry is coming up with a plan, I will develop one. It will be comprehensive and involve the entire industry. Give me a few months to research the possibilities.
And now the news…
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